Adhesive-applying apparatus



Dec. 1, 1942.

F. R. THRE SH ADHESIVE-APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 19:59 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Dec. 1,.1942. F. R. THRESH I ADHESIVE-APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //V VE/V 70/1 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 ADHESIVE-APPLYING APPARATUS Frank Raymond Thresh, Beverly, Mass, assignor to Hoague-Sprague Corporation, Lynn,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 27, 1939, Serial No. 296,780

9 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus by which ,an adhesive may be applied over predetermined areas of such objects as box-blanks, an example of the work for which the invention is especially adapted being furnished by the flat blanks for boxes of the corner-lap type. In connection with these, it is customary to coat with glue the inner faces of the opposite end-wings and their extensions, while leaving uncoated the corner-laps which lie at opposite sides of each end-wing.

For work of the above character, there is often employed what is called a stencil-roll for applying the adhesive, this having from its periphery a projection to which the adhesive is supplied and which contacts with the chosen work-area, while the remaining body-portion of the roll has a smaller radius so it is inactive. As such a roll is used, there is forced over the angular shoulder, where the stencil-projection meets the surface of the body-portion of the roll, the excess of the adhesive which a co-operating roll distributes over the applying or stencil-surface. As this gathers at the rear edge of said stencil-surface it tends to be deposited upon the work in a ridge, this in box-blanks being at one edge of the end-wing. This will show and deface the boxes when the blanks are set up, and there may be a suflicient quantity to be transferred to the pressure-head of the setting-up machine, and, being thereby applied to succeeding blanks, will spoil these'and will interfere with the operation of the machine. Further, as the adhesive accumulates, it may be thrown off into the air in threads, which will cause trouble by gathering upon the work and upon the surrounding portions of the machine. It is an object of my invention to prevent this accumulation of the adhesive at the edge of the applying surface and its transfer to other objects. To gain this end, I combine with e rotatable roll, having an adhesive-applying projection extending about a portion of its periphery while the remainder of said periphery is out of engagement with the work, a member which not only distributes the adhesive over the surface of the projection but contacts with the roll about its entire periphery. The applying roll preferably has two arcuate peripheral surfaces of different radii, these gradually merging into each other by connecting surfaces. With these surfaces the distributing roll is in continuous contact. The effect of this is to produce a uniform distribution of the adhesive over the entire periphery of the applying roll, so there can be no uncontrolled accumulation. Any adhesive which is from. The applying and distributing rolls are maintained in yieldable engagement, to permit the latter roll to follow unfailingly the changing curvatures of the former and to control the thickness of the adhesive-coating upon the projection of the applying roll, this yield being preferably against a plurality of successively acting means. The resistance to yield of such successive means may be variable. As herein illustrated, there is an applying or stencil-roll rotatable in an adhesive-receptacle and having a work-abutmentroll situated above and co-operating with it, and a distributing roll rotatable above the adhesive in the receptacle, it being in continuous contact with the stencil-roll. This continuity of contact is facilitated by reversely curved surfaces which join the stencil-surface to the body-portion of the applying roll. The distributing roll is preferably journaled in the lower extremity of spaced levers fulcrumed at the entering side of the applying and abutment-rolls, with an extensible connection joined to the upper extremities of the levers and to a normally fixed point, a spring acting to extend the connections and force the distributing roll toward the applying roll. Another spring may resist movement of the distributing roll after the extension of the connections. The end surfaces of the applying and distributing rolls are shown as lying in the same plane and having scrapers contacting with them to dispose of the excess of adhesive forced from the peripheral surfaces of these rolls.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a broken top plan view of a particular embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 a side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3, a fragmentary perspective showing one end of the applying and distributing rolls, with their scraper.

At each side of a frame H) a receptacle [2 for glue or other adhesive is carried by a platform M, which is supported at I 6 so it may be lowered and raised to facilitate removal of the receptacle. Rotatable in the frame is the shaft ll of an applying roll I 8 of the stencil-type, this having a body-portion presenting an arcuate peripheral surface 20 from which is an arcuate projection 22, the periphery of which is of such extent that it will coat the desired area of the object being operated upon. These rolls and co-operating elements are duplicated at the opposite side of the frame, because of the character of the work operated upon. The two mechanisms are the same and but one will be described in detail. In the present inforced over the ends of the rolls is removed therestance, .the work consists of the welleknown orm of box-blank B, having projecting from its opposite ends wings a, with extensions b and a cornerlap c at each side of each end-wing. The outer faces of the end-wings and their extensions are to receive a coating of an adhesive, and the dimensions of the projection 22 are such that the peripheral length of its surface is just suflicient to coat the corresponding end-wing and its extension from side to side without acting upon the corner-laps, while its width corresponds to the length of the end-wing plus that of the extension. The applying surface of the projection 22 merges gradually into the roll-surface byv reversely curved convex and concave portions Z 4 and 26 re spectively.

The blanks are presented to the applying roll, in timed relation with the revolution of the projection 22, by spaced conveyor-chains-28, 2&upon which are lugs 30 to positively advance thework. Edge-gages 32 position the blanks transversely with respect to the projection 22. As the blanks are conveyed over the roll l8 they are held: down to receive the action of theprojection 22;by a cylindrical abutmenterollz 34, the shaft36 of which is rotatable inarms 38. These armsare adjust-.

able toalter thedistance between the abutmentroll and the applying roll, by a screw lfl threaded through each. arm and having its head contacting. with a flattened surface 42 upona spindle 44. rotatable inthe. frame 10. When the spindle is turned by an arm 46 fast upon it, the cylindrical surface will cam down the screws 40. to lift the abutment-roll away from the applying roll, thus relieving the pressure upon the work. Therolls l8 and 34 arerotated. in opposite directions at. equalspeeds, as indicated'by thearrows in Fig. 2. Thismay be efiected by gearing 48. joining the shaft I] to a power-shaft 50-, and a gear 52 upon the shaft 36 meshing withthe gearing 48.

Tocause the applying projection 22. topresent. to. the work a uniform coating of the adhesive, and to guard generallyagainst an uneven accumulation of the adhesive-upon any. portion of the periphery of the rolll8, there. co-operates-with it a cylindrical distributing roll 54 situated. at one side. of the applying roll above theireceptacle. I2. Theroll 54 may be formed of: somewhat yieldable. material, as hard rubber, and iscarried by-a shaft 55 rotatable in the lower extremities of a pair of:

of each of. the levers 58 is a yield-able connection.

by which the distributing roll 54 is. held continuously against the periphery of. theapplying roll, soit has unbroken contact withthesurface.

20 of the body-portion, that of. the projection 22. and the connecting surfaces 24 and 26. Considering one of these duplicate connections, the upper end of the lever 58 is pivoted through a-pin 6D to a yoke 62, a tubular extension 64 from the yoke furnishing, in effect, one section of an extensible rod, the other section of which is shown at 6'6 telescoping with the yoke-section, and held against separation by a nut 68 upon the end of the rod and contacting with the innerside of the cross-bar of the yoke. The opposite end of the rod 66 is. joined to a normallyfixed point furnished by anarm Ill fast upon a shaft 12 whichis. mounted to rotate. upon the frame.

The arm.

70 may be moved by a crank-arm 14 upon the shaft from its normal position, illustrated in Fig. 2, in which it is horizontally alined with the extensible connection, to one in which it is displaced upwardly, so the roll 54 is withdrawn from the roll l8, as for cleaning. An expansion-spring 16 surrounds the rod 64, 66, abutting at one end against the cross-bar of the yoke 62, and at the other against a collar 18 threaded upon the rod-section 66. With the arm 10 down in horizontal operating position, the spring 16, by its expansion, extends the rod 64, 66 to force the lower extremity of the lever 58 toward the applying roll I8, and, as thisrotates it causes the distributing roll 54 to maintain, its desired continuous contact with all the portions of the periphery of said applying roll. The force which the spring 16 exerts to extend the connections, and. therefore press the distributing roll. against the applying roll, may be varied by altering the position of the collar 18. This continuous contact of v the. distributing rollv with the applying roll; will, result in leaving a, film. of: adhesive upon the wholeperiphery ofthe applying roll which will be of approximately the thickness desired. When the distributing roILisengaged andforced outwardlyby the projection 22'ofthe ap-v plyingroll, the end; ofa, spring-pressed plunger 82 will-come into contact withtheend of the rod 66, which forms a, stop. This furnishes a resist. ance to displacement of the distributing; roll which will reduce the thickness of; the film upon this projection to that-appropriate for. application to the work; This thickness maybe varied by. adjusting the pressure applied toathe plunger 82; It is movable within a tube 83cpassingthroughv the pin 60 and has a head within an extension 85 from the upper. end of the. lever 58; Acrossthe outer end; of th space within-.thisextension isa. plate 81;, and within thespace is a. comparatively stiffspring 8 4;interposed betweenanab'utment 8! and the head of the. plunger 82. The compression of this spring, may, be adjusted todetermine the thickness; of the; film on the projection. 22 by. a. screw; 8ll'threaded throughthe plate Bland en-. gaging the abutment. Th arrangement issuch. that; the head'of theplunger and the abutment are never in contact nor is.-the spring 84 fully compressed. As a consequence, if through accident a blank, or other article being; coated, shouldistick tothe applying roll l8.and be carriedbetween it and: thedistributing roll 54; no.par.ts would be broken, because the spring 8.4 would yield. sufii-. ciently to permit this additional movement: of the distributing roll' and its carrier-lever. 58.

A certain amountof the adhesive displacedbythe roll 54.,from the peripheryof 'theroll. lfiiinits.v distributing action will pass over. the. rolli-ends. To prevent. accumulation here, thesesurfaces. at each: endpreferably lie. in. the. same vertical plane and have contacting withathema scraper S. This may consistofxa plate 9 0.extending. horizontally over the end surfaces of both rolls, and having downwardly. diverging wings 92and 942 contacting. respectively with. the rolls I8 and; 54', which rise againsttheir inner ends. The dislodgedzmateriali is held'withinthisinverted'troughrshapediscraper to drip back into'the, receptacle. [2". A down-- wardly and; inwardly extending. wing 96.from. the. outer extremityof theplateSOrguards against the removed. material being. thrown outside the. re-. ceptacle. The scraper S is. mounted upon an arm 98 bya slot-and-screw. connection Hill. to. a. bracket I62, which is securedto .the correspond; ing lever-56; The scraper isithusheld in a.defi1-. nite relation to the roll 54in itsmovement and.

may be adjusted toward and from both'rolls to insure the proper removal of the material.

In the'use of the'apparatus, the blanks B are advanced by the lugs of the chains 28 in synchronism with the revolution of the stencil-projection 22. This projection takes its coating ofadhesive directly from the receptacle I2, and, as it rises, its applying surface, and all of the periphery of the roll it are subjected to the distributing effect of the roll 54. The latter roll, urged forward by the spring it and the extensible connection upon which it acts, passes smoothly from the applying surface over the gradually reversed connecting walls 24 and 26 and the surface 20 of the body-portion, leaving thereon a coating of the adhesive entirely without thickened accumulations, as at the junctures of the two arcuate surfaces, to be deposited upon the work, thrown into threads or to drip. With each blank held against upward displacement by the abutment-roll 34, the projection 22 coats uniformly the end-wing and its extension, leaving the corner-laps uncoated. The thickness of the applied adhesive will be determined by the resistance of the spring 84, the yield of which also provides for the passage between the applying and distributing rolls of such solid bodies as the box-blanks, without injury to the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an adhesive-applying apparatus a rotatable roll having an adhesive-applying projection extending about a portion of its periphery, the remainder of the periphery of the roll being out of engagement with the work, an abutment roll situated above and co-operating with the applying roll, spaced levers fulcrumed at the entering side of the rolls, a distributing member journaled between said spaced levers for spreading the adhesive over the surface of the applying roll, means joined to the upper extremity of each lever and to a normally fixed point, and a spring acting to extend said means to force the distributing member toward the applying roll.

2. In an adhesive-applying apparatus, a rotatable adhesive-applying roll having a raised adhesive-applying projection extending about a portion of its periphery, the remainder of the periphery having a radius less than that of the applying projection, a movable support, a rotatable adhesive-distributing roll mounted on the support, said support being displaceable by the raised projection on the applying roll, yieldable means engaging said support and urging it in a direction to hold the distributing roll in unbroken contact with the adhesive-applying roll during the rotation thereof, a stop, and other yieldable means carried by said support and spaced from the stop, the displacement of said support by said raised projection moving the second-named yieldable means into contact with the stop, said secondnamed yieldable means resisting movement of the distributing roll away from the adhesive-applying roll.

3. In an adhesive-applying apparatus, a rotatable roll having an adhesive-applying projection extending about a portion of its periphery, the remainder of the periphery having a radius less than that of the applying projection, a rotatable adhesive-distributing roll moving in unbroken contact with the periphery of the applying roll,

yieldable means for maintaining such contact,

other yieldable means for forcing the distributing roll against the applying projection, and means arranged to" vary the resistance of ea'ch of the yieldable means. Y, a

4. In combination, an adhesive-receptacle, an applying roll provided with astencil-projection raised from and extending about a portion of the peripheral surface of the applying roll, said ap-.

plying roll being'rotatable in the receptacle, an

5. In combination, an adhesive-receptacle, an"

applying roll rotatable in the receptacle, said roll being provided with an arcuate body-portion, a stencil#projecti0n therefrom and reversely curved surfaces connecting the body-portion and stencilprojection, an abutment-roll situated above and co-operating with the applying roll, a rotatable adhesive-distributing roll having continuous contact with the body-portion, th stencil-projection and connecting surfaces of the applying roll, the applying and distributing rolls having their surfaces at each extremity lying in substantially the same plane, and scrapers contacting with such end surfaces.

6. In combination, an adhesive-receptacle, an applying roll provided with a stencil-projection rotatable in the receptacle, an abutment-roll situated above and co-operating with the applying roll, spaced levers fulcrumed at the entering side of the rolls, a distributing roll journaled in the lower extremities of the levers and rotating in continuous contact with th periphery of the applying roll, an extensible connection joined to the upper extremity of each lever and to a normally fixed'point, and a spring acting to extend the connection and force the distributing roll toward the applying roll.

7. In combination, an adhesive-receptacle, an applying roll provided with a stencil-projection rotatable in the receptacle, an abutment-roll situated above and co-operating with the applying roll, spaced levers fulcrumed at the entering side of th rolls, a distributing roll journaled inthe lower extremities of the levers and rotating in continuous contact with the periphery of the applying roll, an extensible connection joined to the upper extremity of each lever, and to a normally fixed point, a spring acting to extend the connection and force the distributing r011 toward the applying roll, and a spring acting to resist movement of the distributing roll after the extension of the connection.

8. In combination, an adhesive-receptacle, an applying roll provided with a stencil-projection rotatable in the receptacle, an abutment-roll situated above and co-operating with the applying roll, spaced levers fulcrumed at the entering side of the rolls, a distributing roll journaled in the lower extremities of the levers and rotating in continuous contact with the periphery of the applying roll, a rOd having sections movable upon each other and connected at their opposite ends to the upper extremity of each lever and to a normally fixed point, a spring interposed between the rod-sections, and a yieldable member into engagement With which one of the rod-sections is movable.

9. In combination, an adhesive-receptacle, an applying roll provided with a stencil-projection rotatable in the receptacle, an abutment-roll situated above and co-operating with'the applying r011, spaced levers fulcrumed 'at the entering side of the rolls, a distributing roll journaled in the lower extremities of the levers and rotating in continuous contact with'the periphery of the applying roll, a. rod having sections movable upon each other, one section being connected to the upper extremity of each lever, a pivoted arm to which the other section is connected, said arm being movable from alinement with the rod-sections to a position at an angle thereto, and a spring interposed between the rod-sections.

FRANK RAYMOND THRESH. 

